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Organisations of persons with disabilities, service-providers, universities and research centres from 14 European countries and Canada have joined forces to pave the way towards more inclusive and person-centred support for persons with disabilities.

Inclusion International (II) held a side event on July 18 titled “The Right to Decide = Empowerment and Participation” The speakers included: Connie Laurin – Bowie, Inclusion International’s Executive Director; Nagase Osamu, Inclusion International’s Council Member, Japan; Vanessa Dos Santos, President, Down Syndrome International, South Africa; and, Klaus Lachwitz, President, Inclusion International.

The Government of the Netherlands recently announced a new Human Rights Funding opportunity of 1.2 million euros for NGOs in different countries under the Human Rights Fund Small Activities 2013.

Over the past few years, the disability community has been participating in consultations, meeting with government officials, partnering with development organizations and others to ensure that the new post-2015 Development Agenda will include an explicit focus on disability. This is currently a top priority for the international disability community.

Preparations are underway for the upcoming Hear our Voices conference in October. This conference will allow for an exchange of ideas, as self-advocates discuss ways they can use their rights so they are fully included in all aspects of society.

As part of the process of developing an action plan to ensure better health for persons with disabilities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an online consultation process which is open until 11 October 2013.

Inclusion Europe embarked on a new project on child participation and is looking for your input. The project “Hear our Voices!” aims to strengthen and increase the direct participation of children with intellectual disabilities, one of the guiding principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mencap marked the Learning Disability Week by organising events that bring people together and strengthen networks in local communities. This disability week took place between 19-25 August, with the aim of of celebrating persons with intellectual disabilities as well as their families and carers.

The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) recently launched a survey to find out how persons with disabilities cope during disasters and to help ensure disability is included in post-2015 development agenda on disaster risk reduction. The survey covers the types of hazards and risks that persons with disabilities are exposed to in disaster zones, as well as personal and national plans for action and risk reduction.

In a public letter, the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre (MDAC) called on the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) to uphold disability rights standards. The Committee needs to ensure its recommendations on the Czech Republic are brought in line with the CRPD so that it is in a position to offer a global approach to human rights for all, MDAC noted.